Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1887-08-05
ROSEBURG REVIEW
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1887.
BEGINNING A LIBRARY.
A Few Reliable Suggestions on the Proper
Selection of Books.

A Few Reliable Suggestions on the Proper
Selection of Books
There comes time in the life OF most
young readers when he or she is anxious
to own a library. The desire is often
frustrated, sometimes by poverty, but
as frequently by a wrong idea as to
what makes a library. Middle-aged
readers gaze somewhat sadly, now and
then, upon collection of books which,
years ago, they labeled my Library" "
It has not grown; it has been but little
used; and the owner is seldom drawn
to it. It is simply number of bound
volumes placed upon shelves.
When the reader began it he thought
that collection of books made a library.
He added volume after volume; felt a
pride in seeing the collection increase,
and one day woke up to the fact that he
had no mental use for lot of books
gathered without a purpose and ar
ranged upon no plan. II young per-
son would own library he should begin
by gathering books which he can, will
and must use. His pocket money may
amount to only few dollars; but he
viii act judiciously if he spends every
penny of it for one book. which he will
use frequently rather than for a dozen
books, the only parts of which he really
admires are the backs and covers.
Nine boys out of ten will act wisely
If they make an unabridged dictionary
the cornerstone of their libraries.
To purchase it may devour the savings
of year, but the dictionary will prove
a good investment, even at that cost.
Let the next purchase be good atlas,
one that represents the earth, and not
merely that portion of it known as the
United States of America. There are
some things happening every day out
side of this country, which is not the
only stage on which tragedies, melo-
dramas and farces are enacted. The
dictionary and atlas should be supple
mented by biographical dictionary, by
a dictionary of dates, and by Brewers s
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. ;"
With these five books boy or girl :.
prepared to read intelligently the ne
paper and monthly magazine.
sure, the library is very small,
is daily used it will increase
The intelligent readin a news
paper or magazine incldW9s the habit,
which every young reader should form,
of consulting the library of five
volumes to learn the meaning ot
words and illusions, the position o1
places, the time of historical events, the
peculiarities of persons mentioned il
the periodicals. Then let no one O
these pass without challenging it tt
stand, while you learn all about it
Reading in this way, you will soon fine
it necessary to increase the small
library by adding to it an encyclopedia
Some OF these may seem too costly fo
the ordinary purse, but the least cost,
will be an acquisition of the right sort
The library, thus increased by health,
growth, may be enlarged by adding
from time to time, any book whicl
responds to the readers bent of mind
or gratifies his desire for knowledge Of
for mental exhilaration. There ar,
times when every reader desires to b.
taken out of himself and away from
his surroundings. The book which
enables him to fly away and be at rest
and then returns him without injury tt
his everyday life, is seryiceable book
my library" says an intelligent
writer, ''should grow with my mind
my taste and my desire for knowledge
It thus becomes my seryiceable friend
to whom I may turn for instruction
refreshment and exhilaration. I know
it; and it seems so real a companion
that muse if it is not the substance ot
what is, and only the shadow of what
J may be. YOUTHS Companion.